The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-02-24
rEaEALr anEERAaE


FEHALE SUFFRAGE.
GOV. Martin has signed the municip-
al suffrage bill, and, although his own
convictions were against the measure,
we think his reasons for his action are
such as any man should be proud of
under the circumstances. The meas
ure can do no harm as a law, and if it
is poor one we will only find it out all
the sooner by experimenting with it.
Gov. Martin has set an example in
this matter that it might be well for
President Cleveland to take pattern
after. Had the latter thought less of
himself and been less egotistieal, when
he refused to approve the several PEN
sion bills which have been sent
back by him vetoed, and acted on the
plan adopted by Gov. Martin, to let his
convictions be, to certain extent,
guided by the voice of the majority,
then how many happy hearts he could
have made, and how many voices
might now be raised in praise, instead
of curses, on his administration.
The following from the Atchison
Champion (Gov. Martins paper may
be of interest to our readers:
Gov. Martin has signed the NUM-
cipal suffrage bill and it is now law.
The law is regarded as an experiment
and was so considered by the governor
in giving his assent to the measure.
The representatives of the people by
an overwhelming majority demanded,
in effect, that the measure should be
tried; and the executive sacrificed his
private feelings on the subject in res
ponse to the demand.
Female suffrage is not entirely an
experiment in Kansas. Women have
long voted at school elections, outside
of cities of the first class, and many a
bond election to build school houses
has been carried by their votes. The
right of women to hold Office has been
recognized. For long time the only
Office to which women were thought to
be eligible, was county SUI
perintendent of schools, but
at least two ladies have been elected
to the Office of register of deeds. n
Kansas legislature was the first, we
believe, to elect a lady to a clerkship.
In fact the idea of women in public
offices and affairs, has been made
familiar to Kansas people since the
beginning of civil government. Still.
the law Introduces d great change in
cities of the first class. Government
in cities of the first class seems to have
been invented to maintain the evils of
which female suffrage. mistakenly or
otherwise, is supposed to be correct
i've. Under the old dramshop act, eX-
ceptions were made in favor of whisky
in cities of the first class. This led to
the prohibition law; and the stubborn
fight made against the law in the large
cities has led to the passage by the
Kansas legislature, by majority sell
dom given any measure, of the muni-
cipal suffrage act. Whisky has again
pulled the house down OH itself.
The law is an experiment. Nobody
knows how it will work, although both
it's advocates and opponents are full of
prophecies. If it works well, female
suffrage will become universal in Kan
sas, If it fails in cities of the first
class to produce reform of the NUM-
cipial government, it ends female suff-
rage in Kansas.
The most grieyous affection to fol-
low the passage of the act is l. great
crop of chestnuts. Female suffrage is
an old topic; it has been talked over
now for at least forty years.
Every argument has been used
that the human intellect has
been able to invent. 1t is
all twice, a thrice told tale. But
here in Kansas, in Atchison, it will all
be talked over again. Old gags will be
dug up; old almanacs hunted over; the
oldest inhabitant consulted for some
thing funny about women voting. We
shall have pictures of Gen. Betsy
Jones, at the head of the United States
army, and Sheriff Sally Smith hanging
man; and the old cartoons of the
husband frying meat and holding the
baby, while his wife is ,rallying the
voters, will be brought out. 1t will be
great burden while it lasts, and it
will last a long time.
= The people of Atchison will have no
occasion to go into commissions over the
question. The city has never mani
Tested any particular interest in the
subject. The,la here will not make a
difference of twenty-five votes. The
male politicians who are getting red in
the face and sweating under the collar.
may compose themselves. The Sresult'
iof:the experiment is doubtful as accom-.
splishingltheiresult for, which lit lis jim
iendedy but none .of the dire calami..
ties which:have been predicted will or-
Cur; 3families will mot be broken up
:nor. the fabric of society shattered. As
much meat will be fried as ever, and
lno babies will perish from inattention;
but, oh, the jokes.